The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-03
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS
seL,M's FORTUNE.
A Story Illustrating How ''Smsll Bssi
ninss Make Crest Ends."

A Story Iiisssrstine new "smsli Begin
ninss Mako Great Eads."
Once upon a time . poor young man
set out to seek his fortune. He had not
penny-piece in his pocket-nothing
but an old tin can, and bit Of advice
which his mother had given him in dy-
ing: "Never pass by any thing you see
as too small to be noticed, or any
thing you hear as too trifling to
be attented to, for there is no
knowing in what way Heaven may
send us help when we need it," So
far, however, he had neither seen nor
heard any thing to help him; nor had
he found any one who would give him
any work to do. Even the flower
gatherers who were working in the
large market gardens outside the city
drove him away when he begged to he
allowed to join them, so that when
evening came he was 30 tired, hungry,
and footsore, that he was compelled to
lie down by the side of the road and
rest. Now, while he lay there, there
Glanced to come that way very wise
man, one of the kings councillors, and
as he passed by Selim saw that he car
ried in his palm grain Of dust, and
heard him murmur as he looked from
him to the distant mountains
Even 30, small beginnings make
great ends.'"
Very much Selim wondered what this
meant but remembering his mothers
words, and thinking it might con-
tain some help for him, he bowed low
before the stranger and humbly
asked him for an explanation of what
he had said, on which the wise man an
swered:
my son. all the greatest things of
earth have their beginning in the small
est. Those mighty mountains could
never have been but for the grains Of
dust which compose them, and men
as poor as you have made great for
tunes out of no larger capital than that
dead mouse in the road there"
"Since that is SO, why shouldn't
make miner" said Selim to himself;
SO he picked up the dead mouse, and
went on his way until by-and-by he
came to cottage where woman was
scolding her cat.
"Be quiet" she said; 'you want some
meat, know, and the at's-meat mar
has not come to-day, SO be still and
don't tease me-"
'.H you have no meat for your cat
what will you give MI
for this fine mousee You shall
have it for half-penny," Selim said
and as pussy began to purr with jo,
and fawn upon him, the woman, VIII,
was very fond Of her cut, took tn,
mouse, and tossing him a halfpenny
sent him away rejoicing. Selim's frs
thought was to buy himself some bread
but remembering how hot and dust,
the flower gatherers had looked whel
they drove him away, he went instea'
and purchased half-pennyworth o
treacle, which he mixed with cold waite
from the brook in his old can. and GO
ing back to the gardens offered each Q
the men as they came out a sup Of tn
cooling drink in exchange for o singl
flower from the basketful they wer
carrying to town for the morrow
market This the thirsty fellows gladl
gave him. SO that by the time his ca
was empty he had quite big bunch {
flowers, which he, too, carried to maj
ket in the morning and sold for 81,
pence.
Selim felt quite happy now. H
bought himself pcnnyworth of breat
and having laid out the remainder {
the money in tcacle, mixed
much larger quantity of the drinl
and repairing to the garden
as before, offered it to the ga
deners in exchange fora bunch I
flowers, and leave to carry away an
dead twigs or branches which migl
have been left under the trees. I'll
men agreed, and Selim having mad
his gatherings into bundle, was ca
rying it to town, when he passed a
avenue where man was busy sweel
ing up the dry sticks and leaves whic
the wind had blown down.
"Here, you," said the man crossl,
"helping is better than staring. Swee
up these for me, and you shall ha,
them in payment for your trouble"
with pleasure" said Selim, chee
fully; SO he swept up the sticks, ar
knotting them together, dragged the
after him in the road. He had n
gone far, however, when he heard
loud shouting, and saw the Kings pc
ter standing at the gate of the roy
. potteries beckoning to him.
"What will you sell me those sticl
fore''we have just run short of fire-wot
} in the kiln where we are baking SON
pots for our royal master, and five ha,
already been spoilt In consequence
Give me those faggots of yours that
may save the rest, and name yO
t price,"
''Sixteen pence and the spoilt pots
t said Selim boldly, for he thought
!; himself, "if no is in such q hurry
: the firing he won't mind giving go'
= price for it," and indeed the potter d
not even wait to haggle with him. b
u thrust the money into his hand. ba
. him take the pots, and FASTENED I
q with his purchase.
Next morning Selim laid out enOui
money on treacle to fill the whole
the great jars with sweet drinks. a.
: having hired truck to carry them O